National Public Radio (NPR) has its panties in a twist over Twitter deciding to label it “US state-affiliated media” and started screeching about freedom of the press while taking a swipe at the social media platform’s CEO, Elon Musk.
The meltdown came one day after Twitter recategorized the leftist media bullhorn which is currently laying off employees as it tanks. NPR President John Lansing clapped back, writing that he was “disturbed” by the designation.
JUST IN – NPR statement on Twitter labeling it as US-affiliated media pic.twitter.com/wNPbzzGbM4
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 5, 2023
“We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as ‘state-affiliated media,’ a description that, per Twitter’s own guidelines, does not apply to NPR. NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide,” he laughably tweeted.
The NPR president went on to assert in his statement that the media outlet was a crucial part of American democracy. He made the claim just hours after Musk confirmed the designation on Twitter.
NPR employees get laid off and of course it's racismhttps://t.co/rpA1GyAuwI
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) April 5, 2023
“It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way,” Lansing mewled. “A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.”
“NPR and our Member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide,” Lansing added on Wednesday. “NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable. It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.”
NPR officials asked Twitter to remove the label. They initially assumed it was applied by mistake, according to NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara.
“We were not warned. It happened quite suddenly last night,” Lara complained.
Musk shared on Wednesday the definition of “state-affiliated media” from Twitter’s Help Center and it is blunt and concise: “State-affiliated media is defined as outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.”
Musk commented, “Seems accurate.”
Seems accurate pic.twitter.com/nx5TmJY7GX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2023
https://twitter.com/renderfish/status/1643638307769790467
The “State-affiliated media” designation has in the past been given to foreign autocracies, like Russia’s RT and China’s Xinhua. It appears that Twitter views NPR as a state-controlled mouthpiece worthy of communist dictatorships.
Twitter does not recommend or amplify accounts with the state-affiliated media label to users, according to its guidelines.
NPR correspondent David Gura claimed that Twitter’s policy was altered to remove any mention of NPR.
“Twitter labeled NPR ‘state-affiliated media,’ even though the company’s own policy stated the organization shouldn’t be labeled as such because it has editorial independence (left). Hours later, Twitter removed the reference to NPR in the policy,” he tweeted.
Yesterday, @elonmusk’s Twitter labeled NPR “state-affiliated media,” even though the company’s own policy stated the organization shouldn’t be labeled as such because it has editorial independence (left).
Hours later, Twitter removed the reference to NPR in the policy (right). pic.twitter.com/cAXoXYFQ2G
— David Gura (@davidgura) April 5, 2023
“Accounts belonging to state-affiliated media entities, their editors-in-chief, and/or their prominent staff may be labeled. State-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK or NPR in the US for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy,” the Help Center at Twitter previously stated, according to Forbes.
NPR has now been removed from that definition.
When Fox News Digital asked for a comment from Twitter, the social media platform hilariously replied with a poop emoji. NPR reportedly got one too and was not amused.
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